Noisy neighbor dispute ends in assault
A man upset about noisy upstairs neighbors in the South Perry Street area barged into their apartment and knocked one of them unconscious, prosecutors allege.
Joshua Gordon Swanson, 24, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court to first-degree burglary and second-degree assault.
His upstairs neighbors at 720 S. Laura St. called Spokane police Dec. 3 and said they were playing dice when they heard their downstairs neighbor pounding o his ceiling, which they said was normal.
A few minutes later, they responded to a knock on the door expecting the arrival of a friend, but instead Swanson and another man who was armed with a machete barged in, according to court documents.
Swanson beat Alvin Commander unconscious until Commander's son, Nicholas Commander, hit him over the head with a frying pan, documents say.
Swanson then allegedly threw a glass object at Nicholas Commander's wife and baby and it shattered against the wall, police said.
Police say Swanson had a gash on his head consistent with being hit with a frying pan. He "admitted to being angry about the noise always coming from (the apartment)," documents say.
Swanson remains in jail on $75,000 bond.